Sealed electrical connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11605916-B2
Application number	US-202117335507-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 1, 2021
Priority date	Jun 1, 2021
Publication date	Mar 14, 2023
Grant date	Mar 14, 2023

Abstract

Devices and methods for a sealed electrical connector are described herein. Some embodiments include a spring connecting a first PCB to a second PCB, wherein the spring includes a first end portion in contact with the first PCB, a second end portion in contact with the second PCB, and a middle portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, a spacer surrounding the middle portion of the spring, a first seal seated in a first groove of the spacer and in contact with the first PCB, and a second seal seated in a second groove of the spacer and in contact with the second PCB.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An electrical connector, comprising:
a spring connecting a first printed circuit board (PCB) to a second PCB, wherein the spring includes:
a first end portion in contact with the first PCB;
a second end portion in contact with the second PCB; and
a middle portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion;

a spacer surrounding, and separated from, the middle portion of the spring;
a first seal seated in a first groove of the spacer and in contact with the first PCB; and
a second seal seated in a second groove of the spacer and in contact with the second PCB.

2. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the spring is a double conic spring.

3. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the middle portion of the spring has a first diameter, and wherein the first and second end portions each taper from the first diameter to a second diameter.

4. The connector of claim 3 , wherein the spacer includes an annular projection defining a retaining diameter, and wherein:
the first diameter exceeds the retaining diameter; and
the retaining diameter exceeds the second diameter.

5. The connector of claim 3 , wherein the second seal includes a retaining lip defining a lip diameter, and wherein:
the first diameter exceeds the lip diameter; and
the lip diameter exceeds the second diameter.

6. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the spring is hermetically sealed from outside air by the spacer, the first seal, the second seal, the first PCB, and the second PCB.

7. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the first seal and the second seal are made of a thermoplastic rubber material.

8. The connector of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first PCB and the second PCB is between 10 and 12 millimeters.

9. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the spring is made of a tinned phosphorous bronze material.

10. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the second seal includes a plurality of fins, and wherein each of the plurality of fins is in contact with the second PCB.

11. An aspirating smoke detector device, comprising:
a first printed circuit board (PCB);
a second PCB;
a spring electrically connecting the first PCB to the second PCB, wherein the spring includes:
a first end portion in contact with the first PCB;
a second end portion in contact with the second PCB; and
a middle portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion;

a spacer surrounding, and separated from, the middle portion of the spring;
a first seal seated in a first groove of the spacer and in contact with the first PCB; and
a second seal seated in a second groove of the spacer and in contact with the second PCB.

12. The aspirating smoke detector device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a second spring electrically connecting the first PCB to the second PCB, wherein the second spring includes:
a third end portion in contact with the first PCB;
a fourth end portion in contact with the second PCB; and
a second middle portion extending between the third end portion and the fourth end portion;

a second spacer surrounding the second middle portion;
a third seal seated in a third groove of the second spacer and in contact with the first PCB; and
a fourth seal seated in a fourth groove of the second spacer and in contact with the second PCB.

13. The aspirating smoke detector device of claim 11 , wherein the spacer is a portion of a manifold of the aspirating smoke detector device.

14. The aspirating smoke detector device of claim 11 , wherein the first PCB includes a first spring contact point, wherein the second PCB includes a second spring contact point, and wherein the first spring contact point, the second spring contact point, and the spring are made of a same material.

15. The aspirating smoke detector device of claim 11 , wherein the first PCB is substantially parallel to the second PCB.

16. The aspirating smoke detector device of claim 11 , wherein the spring is prevented from contacting smoke particles by the spacer, the first seal, the second seal, the first PCB, and the second PCB.

17. A method of manufacturing a sealed electrical connector, comprising:
providing a spring configured to electrically connect a first printed circuit board (PCB) to a second PCB, wherein the spring includes:
a first end portion configured to contact the first PCB;
a second end portion configured to contact the second PCB; and
a middle portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion;

inserting the spring into a spacer such that the spacer surrounds, and is separated from, the middle portion of the spring;
seating a first seal in a first groove of the spacer and a second seal in a second groove of the spacer;
bringing the first seal into contact with the first PCB; and
bringing the second seal into contact with the second PCB.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the method includes inserting the spring into a lumen defined by an inner surface of the spacer.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the spacer includes an annular projection defining a ledge, and wherein the method includes retaining the spring in the lumen via the ledge.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the second seal includes a retaining lip, and wherein the method includes retaining the spring in the lumen via the retaining lip.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Piro Domenico
• Pace Gianluca
• Miheli Mauro

Classifications

• H01R13/2421

  using coil springs · CPC title

• H01R12/714

  with contacts abutting directly the printed circuit; Button contacts therefore provided on the printed circuit · CPC title

• H01R12/52

  connecting to other rigid printed circuits or like structures · CPC title

• H01R13/533

  Bases, cases made for use in extreme conditions, e.g. high temperature, radiation, vibration, corrosive environment, pressure (H01R13/52 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R13/5219

  Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal · CPC title